as in spiral
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens, travels a helical path through space

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of helical Unlike standard laser beams that propagate straight, vortex beams twist along their axis, creating a helical wavefront with a distinct ‘null intensity’ region at the center. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Mar. 2025 These helical stacks are similar to a screw thread. Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 13 Mar. 2025 Both resulted in a clear improvement in the efficiency and stability of the OSC, but the chiral – or helical – structure yielded the best results. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2025 When printed with a helical structure, that number increased to 56 percent higher efficiency and 50 times more stable while the process was also successful for manufacturing. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for helical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helical
Adjective
  • Koru translates to loop or coil in Māori, and is based on the spiral shape of an unfurling silver fern frond, as a necklace.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 24 June 2025
  • Cone snails, part of the Conidae family, are a type of predatory gastropod mollusk that live inside spiral shells.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • In addition, the watch has a stop-second function, which halts the balance wheel and seconds hand when the winding crown is pulled out, allowing for precise time adjustments.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 90 about 30 miles outside of New Orleans — on a winding, narrow stretch of the two-lane highway known as the Old Spanish Trail, per The Salina Journal.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Helical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helical. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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